I decided to go ahead and post my monologue from last weekend when we had the cemetary walk for Elkhart Historical Society and as a benefit for Elkhart Civic Theatre. I took the part of Mrs. Rosalie Beebe from the list of characters that were selected by the Historical Society of the persons who are buried at Grace Lawn Cemetary in Elkhart. This was a great way for me to learn some of Elkhart's history, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. Just for the record, there was nothing at all "creepy" about the whole thing, even though it was held in the cemetary. You can look at my pictures as the character on my Facebook page. The following is my monologue.
"Good Afternoon. I am Mrs. Rosalie Beebe, the wife of judge Samuel P. Beebe. I was born Rosalie Harris in Kingsbury, New York in December of 1778, just two years, five months and two days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I married my husband, Samuel, in Troy, New York in 1814 where we lived until we moved to this area in 1831. When we came here, we boarded with Mr. George Crawford on the north side of the river, in what was then Pulaski. We built only the second house on the south side of the river on the original plat of what started to be called Elkhart the next year of 1832.
"My husband is a peculiar man. A lot of folks don't know whether to like him or not. He loves to spark a quarrel between neighbors. And he loves a good practical joke. For instance, I remember one day he was riding down the river road and he came across Silas DeCamp hauling a huge hollow log up the river bank. "Come now, Silas" he says. "I'll bet you a quarter the hole in that log is not big enough to creep into." Silas, accepting the bet, crept into the hole. As soon as he did, down from his horse Sam jumped, and gave that log a shove. The log rolled back down the river bank with its occupant, and splashed into the river. My husband rode off in a glee, leaving poor Silas to sink or swim. Well, some good gentlemen came by presently and rescued Silas from his predicament, and then they all came looking for my husband. When they found Samuel, his story was that he had seen the log roll into the river and had rode into town to get help. Silas had won his quarter, and Samuel had another funny story to tell.
"I hope you won't think me boastful to say that it was I who created the first wedding garments and also funeral garments worn by white settlers in the village of Elkhart. I had the first spinning wheel that appeared in Elkhart and I loved to weave. One year I spun and wove 50 yards of material. That same year I knitted 50 pairs of socks, which I found a market for in the nearby settlement of Mishawaka. I also created the first cake of cheese on the south side of the river. Mrs. Rachel Beardsley created the first cheese on the north side.
"It may also interest you to know that the First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart was formed in my home in May of 1841. The church met in my home for two years. Thank you for visiting me today."
Rosalie Beebe lived to be 99 years old. She died in April of 1888. That is pretty old for someone back in those days. Her obituary stated that she did not look 99, but more like a woman in her 60's. I think that was something I have in common with her. A lot of people tell me that I don't look my age. Anyway, I hope to do something like this again next year when the Elkhart Historical Society does this again. We may be in a different cemetary next year. We shall see.
